North Suffolk Mental Health Association – Meridian House

Meridian House is a home that offers residential treatment for individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder and mild to moderate co-occuring conditions. It’s located in East Boston, Massachusetts, and is run by North Suffolk Community Services (NSCS) as part of their broader addiction support programs. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, NSCS is positioned to offer their services to individuals on a sliding fee scale so that people in any socio-economic circumstance can get the help they need. They also accept Medicare and Medicaid, and can also assist people on private insurance.

Meridian House is the larger of two residential treatment centers run by NSCS. At Meridian House, up to 30 adults older than 18 can live together and engage in the 24 hour daily program. The program’s focus is to help maintain accountability while allowing participants to gradually pick up more responsibilities as they move through the program.

The program itself is structured, consisting of daily counseling, shared chore responsibilities, a chain of command for navigating disputes, and rules designed to foster a healthy environment for recovery. As residents engage positively with this organized program, they can gain access to more privileges that correspond to a leveled system.

As residents “level up,” they’re encouraged to expand their horizons, which can include becoming a resident leader within the house, getting more cell phone access, and being allowed to find employment while staying in the residence.

As strict as the program is, NSCS takes great care to ensure that they attend to the residents’ rights. These rights include complete confidentiality when it comes to their records (medical and otherwise), their right not to be mistreated physically or psychologically, and their right to terminate treatment if they so wish.

Meridian House’s residents also have access to NSCS’s outpatient services for extra support. This could include access to more individual and group therapy sessions, individual help with recovery planning, and medication assisted treatment (MAT).